Palestinian Sewage Threatens Israel's Water Supply, Report Warns
A new report titled 'Murky Waters' by the Israeli environmental group 'Yarok Achshav' (Green Now) reveals that tens of millions of cubic meters of untreated sewage from the Palestinian Authority are seeping into Israel's groundwater annually, posing a significant threat to the country's water sources. According to Barak Vercer, the organization's director, approximately 65 million cubic meters of wastewater infiltrate the mountain aquifer, Israel's primary underground water reservoir, each year.
Vercer highlighted the recent desalination plant crisis in Israel, emphasizing that such events force the nation to rely on natural water sources. He warned that contamination of these sources, whether by human activity or natural causes, could leave Israelis without drinking water. He contrasted this with Gulf states that depend solely on desalination, suggesting Israel would face severe shortages if it relied only on such facilities during crises.
The report attributes the contamination to the Palestinian Authority's neglect of sewage management in its cities, villages, and private homes. Vercer described this negligence as characteristic of 'third-world countries,' rather than environmental terrorism, and noted that despite significant international funding received by the PA per capita, these funds are not allocated to essential infrastructure like sewage treatment.
Domestic and industrial wastewater contains dangerous pathogens like fecal coliforms and hazardous chemicals that require extensive purification before being released or reused. While some treated wastewater is used for irrigation in other regions, the PA reportedly does not even collect its sewage, with many communities lacking collection systems and simply draining waste into pits. This untreated sewage has been seeping into the ground for decades, eventually reaching Israel's water table, sometimes mixing with rainwater but still causing damage.
Vercer argued that Israel's reluctance to intervene stems from a 'Green Line' mentality, referring to the pre-1967 borders, which prevents necessary action. He asserted that just as security forces can operate in Area A and B in the West Bank during security emergencies, environmental threats like untreated sewage should warrant similar intervention. He urged Israeli decision-makers, particularly in the Ministries of Agriculture, National Infrastructures, and Environmental Protection, to overcome bureaucratic and cost-related hesitations and address this environmental hazard.
